Ladder and elevator



Nov. 2, 1965 E. w. OTTO ETAL LADDER AND ELEVATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledJan. 15, 1964 Eldon W Offo Wilmer w. sen/mar IN VEN TORS wig... BY flaw(may 5% Nov. 2, 1965 E. w. OTTO ETAL LADDER AND ELEVATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet2 Filed Jan. 15, 1964 Eldon W. 0H0

Wilmer W. Schmidt 1N VEN TORS United States Patent 3,215,254 LADDER ANDELEVATOR Eldon W. Otto, Rte. 1, Fremont, Wis., and Wilmer W. Schmidt,821 Fieldcrest Drive, Neenah, Wis. Filed Jan. 15, 1964, Ser. No. 337,7993 Claims. (Cl. 198-140) This invention relates to new and usefulimprovements in portable, power-driven elevators of the ladder type andhas for its primary object to :provide, in a manner as hereinafter setforth, novel means for hoisting rolls of roofing material, bundles ofshingles, etc., to a roof or other elevated area in which they are to beused.

Another important object of the present invention 18 to provide anelevator of the aforementioned character wherein the hoisting mechanismis adapted to be expeditiously mounted for use on a suitableconventional straight ladder without materially modifying samestructurally.

Still another important object is to provide a portable elevator of thecharacter described in which the hoisting mechanism is powered and willnot seriously interfere with the use of the ladder as such and wherein,further, the power plant may be readily mounted for operation on saidladder and removed therefrom, if desired.

Another highly important object is to provide a portable, poweractuated, ladder-type elevator which is adapted to operate continuouslya series of rolls, bundles, etc., in rapid succession.

A further object is to provide a ladder and material elevator of thecharacter set forth which may be easily handled and operated by a singleindividual.

Other objects are to provide a ladder and elevator of the characterdescribed which is comparatively simple in construction, strong,durable, compact, of light weight and which may be manufactured at lowcost.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the ac companying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view, showing a ladder and elevator embodying thepresent invention in position for use;

FIGURE 2 is an end elevational view of the ladder and elevator as seenfrom the left side of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of the apparatus shown in FIGURES 1and 2;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional View takensubstantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 4-4 of FIGURE1;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary enlarged perspective view illustrating themanner in which the prime mover for powering the elevator is mounted onthe ladder;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantiallyupon the plane indicated by the section line 6-6 of FIGURE 5; and

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary enlarged perspective view illustrating themanner in which the elevating platforms are supported from and betweenthe pair of endless fieX- ible tension members which define the elevatorportion of the instant invention.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings it will be seen that theembodiment of the present inven tion which has been illustrated includesa conventional form of ladder generally designated by the referencenumeral 10 and including the usual side rails or stiles 12 that areinterconnected by means of a plurality of rungs 14.

The upper end of the ladder 10 includes a space attachment generallyreferred to by the reference numeral 16 and defined by a pair of spacingmembers 18 which are generally U-shaped in side elevation and have theirfree ends secured to the corresponding side rail 12 in any convenientmanner such as by fasteners 20. Each of the U- shaped members 18includes a plurality of bracing members 22 in order that the U-shapedmembers 18 may be as rigid as possible while being maintained at aminimum weight. The spacing attachment 16 is adapted to support theupper end of the ladder 10 from an elevated object such as the grade 24while the lower end of the ladder 10 rests upon a lower object as thetailgate 26 of a truck (not shown) from which a plurality of packages 28of building material are being unloaded.

It is to be noted that the ladder 10 could be readily leaned up againstthe side of the building and that the spacing attachment 16 will supportthe upper end of the ladder from and in spaced relation relative to thewall of the building.

The elevator portion of the instant invention includes a driven shaft 30which is journaled between the lower ends of the rails 12 and has adriven wheelor sprocket 32 mounted on one end thereof which projectsoutwardly from the corresponding rail 12. In addition, an intermediateshaft 34 is journalled from the corresponding side rail 12 and has asprocket wheel 36 mounted thereon in alignment with a sprocket wheel 32.The sprocket wheels 32 and 36 are drivingly connected by means of anendless chain 38 and the outwardly projecting free end portion of theintermediate shaft 34 has a drive pulley 40 mounted thereon which isaligned with a drive pulley 42 mounted on the output shaft 44 of aninternal combustion engine generally referred to by the referencenumeral 46, the drive pulley or wheel 42 being drivingly engaged withthe drive pulley or wheel 49 by means of an endless flexible belt 48.

The upper ends of the side rails 12 have a second transversely extendingidler shaft 50 rotatably journaled therebetween and the drive shaft 30has a pair of sprocket wheels 52 mounted thereon which are aligned witha pair of sprocket wheels 54 mounted on the shaft 50, corresponding onesof the sprockets 52 and 54 having an endless chain 56 entrainedthereover with the two chains 56 defining an endless conveyor.

A plurality of support platforms 58 are interconnected between thechains 56 and are supported from the chains 56 by means of special tielinks 62. Each of the tie links 62 includes a laterally directed flange64 to which the corresponding end of the associated support platforms 58is secured. Further, the tie links 62 each include a gusset plate 66secured between the tie links 62 and the corresponding flange 64. Inaddition, the outer end of the flange 64 terminates in a rearwardlydirected right angulated portion 68 which in turn terminates at its freeend in a rearwardly and inwardly directed portion 70 whose free endterminates -a spaced distance from the associated chain 56.

Accordingly, it may be seen that upon operation of the internalcombustion engine 46 the drive shaft 38 will be rotated whereupon theconveyor assembly defined by the chains 56 will be placed in operationand the support platforms 58 will move about the closed path defined bythe chains 56.

The ladder 10 has a pair of laterally outwardly projecting V-shapedsupports 74 mounted thereon between the shaft 30 and the shaft 50, theV-shaped supports 74 being secured to the outer surfaces of the siderails 12 and adapted to support the package 28 before the latter isengaged by one of the support platforms 58 for movement of the package28 upwardly along the ladder 10.

The embodiment of the present invention also includes a hanger assemblygenerally referred to by the reference numeral 76 which is generallyJ-shaped in configuration including a pair of upstanding short and longlegs 78 and 80 respectively interconnected at their lower ends by meansof a bight portion 82, a diagonal brace 83 being connected between theleg 80 and the mid-portion of the bight portion 82. The J-shaped hangerassembly 76 includes a laterally directed upper arm portion 86 which isformed integrally with the upper end of the leg 80 and is journaledthrough the corresponding side rail or stile 12 of the ladder 10. Inaddition, the upper end of the leg 78 includes a laterally directedspindle shaft 88 which generally parallels the arm portion 86 andprojects outwardly from the opposite side of the medial plane of theJ-shaped hanger assembly 76. A support platform 90 has a pair of axiallyaligned and spaced sleeves 92 secured to one marginal edge portion andthe sleeves 92 are journaled on the spindle or spindle shaft 88-, adiagonal brace 84 being secured between the bight portion 82 and asleeve 85 disposed on the spindle shaft 88 between the sleeves 92. Theinternal combustion engine 46 is mounted on the plate 90 in anyconvenient manner and it may be seen from FIGURE 4 of the drawings thatthe offset mounting of the internal combustion engine 46 relative to theaxis of rotation of the sleeve 92 enables the weight of the internalcombustion engine to yieldingly tension the endless belt 48. Inaddition, an expansion spring 94 is secured between an upper portion ofthe internal combustion engine 46 and the long leg 80.

An elongated brace bar 96 is pivotally secured at one end to the siderail 12 which journals the arm 86 by means of a pivot fastener 98 andthe end of the brace or brace bar 96 remote from the pivot fastener 98is pinned to the lower portion of the long leg 80 by means of a headedpin 100 which is secured through a selected one of the apertures 102formed in and spaced longitudinally of the lower end of the brace bar 96and an aperture or bore 104 formed through the lower end of the long leg80. In this manner, the hanger assembly 76 may be secured in adjustedand rotated position about the axis of rotation of the arm 86 as desiredto maintain the internal combustion engine 46 substantially horizontallydisposed when the belt 48 is tensioned.

It may be readily seen from FIGURES 1 and 2 of the drawings that thehanger assembly 76 may be rotated a full 360 degrees without it or theinternal combustion engine supported thereby interfering with any otherportion of the embodiment of the present invention. However, it is to befurther noted that the rotation of the hanger assembly 76, duringpractical use of the ladder Would be more than likely limited tomovement between the position illustrated in FIGURE 3 of the drawingsand a second position rotated somewhat less than 90 degrees in aclockwise direction from the position illustrated in FIGURE 3 of thedrawings.

It is believed that it may be readily appreciated that the hangerassembly and brace 96 may be readily removed whenever desired in orderthat the ladder 10, with the conveyor assembly defined by the chains 56and the support platforms 58 retained thereon, may be utilized as aconventional ladder. Further, inasmuch as the medial plane of theJ-shaped hanger assembly 76 is disposed laterally outward-1y of the sideof the ladder to which it is secured, the brace member 96 includes alaterally offset end portion 110 which is secured to the hanger assembly76. However, a diagonal brace member 112 is provided and is securedbetween the laterally offset end portion 110 and the opposite endportion of the brace member 96 for maintaining the latter rigid.

In operation, when it is desired to utilize the ladder 10 to convey thepackages 28 from the tailgate 26 to the upper level of the grade 24, thepackages may be placed on the side rails 12 immediately above the V-shaped support 74 for support by the latter. Then, as one of the supportplatforms 58 moves between the support 74, the package 28 will beengaged by the support platform 58 and moved upwardly along the ladder10 while the package 28 rests upon the chains 56 or upon the uppersurfaces of the side rails 11 in the event the tension of the chains 56is not sufiicient to maintain the package 28 spaced above the uppersurfaces of the side rails 12.

In the event it is desired to use the ladder 10 as a conventionalladder, the hanger assembly 76 and the brace 96 may be readily removedwith a minimum amount of effort while the other components of theinstant invention remain intact excepting for the endless belt 48 whichwill be also removed. Then, the ladder 10 may be utilized as aconventional ladder until such time as it is again desired to secure theprime mover on the ladder and to drivingly connect the prime mover tothe conveyor assembly of the ladder defined by the shafts 36 and 50 andthe endless chains 56.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. A mate-rial hoist comprising a ladder including spaced side rails andspaced rungs extending there-between, an endless conveyor assemblymounted on the ladder for conveying loads upwardly therealong andincluding driven and idler shafts journaled between said side rails attheir lower and upper ends, respectively, and endless conveyor meansentrained over said shafts, an upright hanger frame pivotally supportedat its upper end from a lower end portion of said ladder for rotationabout a horizontal axis extending between said rails and disposedbetween said shafts, prime mover means including an output shaftjournaled for rotation about an axis generally paralleling said shafts,an endless flexible drive member entrained about said shafts anddrivingly "connecting said output shaft to said driven shaft, meanspivotally securing said prime mover means to a lower portion of saidhanger frame for rotation about an axis generally paralleling thefirst-mentioned axis and in a manner supporting said prime mover meansin cantilever fashion with the center of gravity of said prime movermeans disposed above the axis of rotation of said prime mover meansrelative to said hanger frame and on the side of a vertical planecontaining the last-mentioned axis remote from said driven shaft, andmeans connected between said ladder and said frame operative toadjustably retain said hanger frame in selected rotated positionsrelative to said ladder, said output shaft being swingable with saidhanger frame between adjusted positions disposed on the side of a plane,disposed normal to said ladder and in which said driven shaft isdisposed, adjacent the first-mentioned axis.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said means connected between saidladder and said frame comprises an elongated brace pivotally secured tosaid ladder and adjustably securable, at points spaced longitudinallyalong said brace, to said frame.

3. The combination of claim 2 including means connected between saidprime mover means and said frame yieldingly urging rotation of saidprime mover means relative to said frame in a direction increasing thedistance between said shafts.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,685,957 8/54Schlesinger 19814O 2,751,063 6/56 Wilcoxen et al 198203 X 2,865,49512/58 Oidtman 198-208 2,873,939 2/59 Oidtman l98l40 X SAMUEL F. COLEMAN,Primary Examiner.

1. A MATERIAL HOIST COMPRISING A LADDER INCLUDING SPACED SIDE RAILS ANDSPACED RUNGS EXTENDING THEREBETWEEN, AN ENDLESS CONVEYOR ASSEMBLYMOUNTED ON THE LADDER FOR CONVEYING LOADS UPWARDLY THEREALONG ANDINCLUDING DRIVEN AND IDLER SHAFTS JOURNALED BETWEEN SAID SIDE RAILS ATTHEIR LOWER AND UPPER ENDS, RESPECTIVELY, AND ENDLESS CONVEYOR MEANSENTRAINED OVER SAID SHAFTS, AN UPRIGHT HANGER FRAME PIVOTALLY SUPPORTEDAT ITS UPPER END FROM A LOWER END PORTION OF SAID LADDER FOR ROTATIONABOUT A HORIZONTAL AXIS EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID RAILS AND DISPOSEDBETWEEN SAID SHAFTS, PRIME MOVER MEANS INCLUDING AN OUTPUT SHAFTJOURNALED FOR ROTATION ABOUT AN AXIS GENERALLY PARALLELING SAID SHAFTS,AN ENDLESS FLEXIBLE DRIVE MEMBER ENTRAINED ABOUT SAID SHAFTS ANDDRIVINGLY CONNECTING SAID OUTPUT SHAFT TO SAID DRIVEN SHAFT, MEANSPIVOTALLY SECURING SAID PRIME MOVER MEANS TO A LOWER PORTION OF SAIDHANGER FRAME FOR ROTATION ABOUT AN AXIS GENERALLY PARALLELING THEFIRST-MENTIONED AXIS AND IN A MANNER SUPPORTING SAID PRIME MOVER MEANSIN CANTILEVER FASHION WITH THE CENTER OF GRAVITY OF SAID PRIME MOVERMEANS DISPOSED ABOVE THE AXIS OF ROTATION OF SAID PRIME MOVER MEANSRELATIVE TO SAID HANGER FRAME AND ON THE SIDE OF A VERTICAL PLANECONTAINING THE LAST-MENTIONED AXIS REMOTE FROM SAID DRIVEN SHAFT, ANDMEANS CONNECTED BETWEEN SAID LADDER AND SAID FRAME OPERATIVE TOADJUSTABLY RETAIN SAID HANGER FRAME IN SELECTED ROTATED POSITIONSRELATIVE TO SAID LADDER, SAID OUTPUT SHAFT BEING SWINGABLE WITH SAIDHANGER FRAME BETWEEN ADJUSTED POSITIONS DISPOSED ON THE SIDE OF A PLANE,DISPOSED NORMAL TO SAID LADDER AND IN WHICH SAID DRIVEN SHAFT ISDISPOSED, ADJACENT THE FIRST-MENTIONED AXIS.